B016545 - ASSESSMENT OF WOOD QUALITY, WOOD CHEMISTRY AND FORESTRY BIOMASS

ITALIAN

Tree growth and wood quality; growth condition and stems quality; effect of selvicultural practices on wood structure and ultrastructure, density and growth ring density; juvenile wood and reaction wood; growth stresses; early evaluation of wood quality. Wood for structure. Wood panel.
Knowledge of the main wood’s organic molecule commercial characteristics and possible utilization (biorefinery).

Wood Quality and its Biological Basis – J.R.Barnett – G.Jeromidis Blackwell Publisching 2003
Lozzi, Bosetto. Chimica del legno. Aracne E.d. 2008

Knolewdge acquired: Structure and ultrastructure of wood; growth factors and wood structure, wood defects; standards for wood assessment.
Knowledge on the main plant and wood constituents. Relevance of the pedoclimatic conditions tothe wood characteristics. Possible commercial utilization of the wood components. Knowledge of biorefinery to obtain Energy.

Competence acquired (at the end of the course): microscopic analysis of wooden tissues, assessment of standing trees, logs and sawn timber.

Skills acquired (at the end of the course): Assessment of growth factors on wood quality; grading of standing trees, logs and sawn timber. Competence on wood characteristics and possible biorefinery utilization.

Courses to be used as requirements (required and/or recommended):
Students are expected to be familiar with the principles and terminology of biology, organic chemistry, wood technology.
Courses recommmended: Organic Chemistry, Wood science.

CFU: 9
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 225
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: 88
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 40
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours): 24
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 8
Seminars (hours): 0
Stages: 0
Intermediate examinations: 0

Frequency of lectures, practice and lab: although non compulsory, is strongly recommended.
Teaching tools: Video projector, PC, overhead projector, labs.

Analysis of a case study and preparation of a written report
Main assessment criteria of the examination are concerning:
terminological reliability
performance in connecting different subjects treated in the program

– Structure and ultra-structure of wood – juvenile wood and reaction woods – cambial activity and features able to influence it – effects of growth factors on wood quality – effects of silvicultural practices (Initial spacing, thinning; pruning) on wood structure and properties (microfibril angle, density, defects). Non destructive assessment of wood and timber quality – Main Italian and European standards for logs and sawn boards grading. Strength grading of sawn timber. Wood panel and wood products. Industrial processing of wood, wood machinery and wood working – Characteristics of wooden organic compounds, and their possible commercial uses (Bio-refinery).

Lab practical : preparation of microscopic samples, quantitative wood anatomy - measurement of Microfibril angle (optical methods and Xray diffraction) – Excursions in the field for visiting timber plantations – Visits to sawmills and other wood processing mills.